Sara Pauff: Events that are fun and educational

After a week of sleeping in, running around on the beach and playing Wii until you collapse, it’s back to school on Monday.

When I was writing about schools and education, I knew teachers who would assign review packets over breaks to keep students from forgetting everything they’d learned since August. Others would tell students to enjoy their well-deserved vacation -- but remember to crack a book or practice math and science flashcards every once in a while.

As a kid, I never had any problem finding a good book to read, but review packets and flashcards were not my idea of a good time, especially during a vacation.

Luckily, there are several local events today that are a good time, but also educational. Just don’t tell the kids.

Reptile Fest at Oxbox Meadows: Biology lesson -- how do you tell if a snake is venomous? Find the answer during Oxbow Meadows’ 10th annual Reptile Fest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. The event will include live reptile displays, reptile information stations, a 30-foot reptile wagon, reptile crafts and reptile games and prizes. You can also watch local cold-blooded and scaly creatures compete in the Miss Hiss Pageant at 12:30 p.m. Animal Planet star Jason Clark will present his Reptile Encounters show at 2 p.m.

Admission to Reptile Fest is $5 for adults and children older than 3 years old. For more info, call 706-687-4090.

Hockey Day: This is your P.E. class -- only instead of tetherball and foursquare, you strap on some skates and learn how to hit a puck.

From 11:30 to 1:30 p.m., kids ages 4-9 who are interested in learning hockey can try out the sport for free at the Columbus Civic Center. There will be volunteers on hand to help out and answer questions about youth hockey in Columbus. Don’t have hockey pads and gear? No worries. Just bring a helmet, a pair of gloves or mittens, a parent and a smile.

The event is sponsored by the Columbus Hockey Association, the Columbus Cottonmouths, Auburn Hockey, OneGoal and the Southern Amateur Hockey Association. Registration starts at 11:30 a.m. and kids will be on the ice from noon to 1:30 p.m. For more information, e-mail jimdress@bellsouth.net.

iSpy: Hide and seek and a history lesson in the dark. Armed with flashlights, kids will uncover clues to local historical events, find hidden messages and play games, like red light/green light and hide and seek, during this five-block walking tour.

Encrypted messages, historical clues -- sounds like a kiddie-version of The DaVinci Code. The hunt begins at 7:45 p.m. at Heritage Park and is 45 minutes. Admission is $8 for kids, but parents and non-participating children are free. Bring your own flashlight, bug spray, water and sense of adventure. For more information, contact tour guide Monica Cobis at 706-225-8888 or visit